The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-22
sLossoN's FRIENDSHIP FOR PATTI.
Her Guests in Her Castle in Wales

Her Guests in Her Castle in Wales.
NEW YORK, May 21--Nobby young men
in dress suits, who drop into uptown bill
lizard halls for quiet game after the theatre,
handle their cues with dreamy air nova
days, and when they score round-the- table
shot, or cushion follow, they sigh and
whisper: wonder what Patti would think
of that? They amuse themselves by i'm
agining that the divinity of Italian opera
at 81 a seat is present in spirit watching the
play with a benign and sympathetic in
terest. And it is all on account of the
friendship of Patti for George SloSSon,
the Chicago billiardist. Everybody knows
by this time that the expert is at
companying the singer to her home in
Wales as an invited guest. A few days
more and they will be knocking the balls
around the table in that delightful country,
and there will be an abundance of caroms
and strictly technical kisses And when
Slosson places Nicolini's tall hat on the
table, and cues his ball so that it jumps
clear over the hat and collides with the red
ball near the rail, and then bounding into
the air again makes a point op the spot ball
lying on the window seat in an adjoining
room, PATHS dainty hands will come
together with a resounding spat, and her
wonderful voice will ring out a merry
aggdebabgejabwg ap-punk" (Which is
Welsh for good shotr0 For Patti always
speaks the vernacular no matter what land
she may be in. Nicolini cannot, and there
was where he was at a disadvantage in
making the acquaintance of Slosson.
1t began in this city when Patti was
singing her first season here under Abbeys
management She and Nicolini were quar-
tered at the Windsor, and the first thing put
into their suite for their especial use was a
billiard table, The second was a piano. Dur
ing the winter several noted billiardiSts
were in town and Nicolini was regular
spectator at the matches they played. He
wandered one day into the billiard room of
a leading hotel and found Slosson practic-
ing there. An introduction was readily ar
ranged, although it was necessary to retain
the services of an interpreter. Their con-
versation was of a rather formal character
and consisted mainly in the exchange of
compliments. On the same day Nicolini
sent Slosson a request that he,shOuld give a
private exhibition of his skill at the Wind
sor. Slosson, of course, consented, and the
in a week. Nicolini and Patti were
the only spectators. SloSson performed
a number of fancy shots, made long
runs from given positions at straighs
billiards and cushion caroms, and
talked with Patti about the game. At
Nicolini could not speak English he had to
keep still, but his fingers were all the time
aching for the cue, and eventually with
the assistance of Patti as interpreter,
game was arranged between the tenor and
the expert. Slosson discounted the tenor
and beat him. The entertainment was re-
peated on several other afternoons during
the season, and once or twice Dion, who
was also in the city, took part in the exhibit
tions. How much Slosson was paid for his
services is not known, but when the singers
reached Chicago he courteously invited
them to private exhibition, and they saw
good deal of each other Nicolini and
Patti found him true gentleman, and the
commercial character of the private games
soon disappeared Slosson became a fire.
quent guest at their hotel whenever they
were in the city. He has played many a
game with Patti herself, who is very fond
of the diversion and is a fair player.
JOHN FIELD.